The Brit Awards are set to double the amount of nominees for gender-neutral categories due to lack of diversity

After 2023’s all-male lineup, The Brit Awards have decided to double the number of nominees in gender-neutral categories.

Organisers of the award show have announced the Artist of the Year and International Artist of the Year prizes will have 10 nominees from next year, up from five.

The show received a considerable amount of backlash back in January when it was revealed that no women had been shortlisted for the Best Artist prize. This award replaced the Best Male and Female categories two years ago.

After “extensive consultation” after the last Brit Awards, the British Phonographic Industry are “improving representation and inclusion.”

In previous years R&B music has been combined pop/R&B category but going forward will have its own category. This is said to include alternative/rock, dance, pop and hip-hop/grime/rap.

Organisers have reassured artists that eligibility for the new genre award will cover a 24-month period instead of only 12 months to ensure artists who were overlooked last year could qualify.

The BPI chief executive, Jo Twist, said: “The Brits is committed to making the show as inclusive and representative as possible, the changes to this year’s categories are part of an ongoing process of evolution and we will continue to review, listen and learn.”

Harry Styles won last year’s Best Artist award and used his acceptance speech to dedicate it to a list of female singers – “I’m very aware of my privilege up here tonight,” he said, “so this award is for Rina [Sawayama], Charli [XCX], Florence [Welch], Mabel and Becky [Hill].”

This year, the nominees included Styles, Stormzy, Central Cee, Fred Again and George Ezra. In an interview Sam Smith criticised the list, saying: “There’s so much incredible talent in the UK – they should be on that list.”

The BPI then announced it would review the nomination process and determine if any changes were needed to support women.